packets of them, tore them up and threw them relieved from his monastic trammels, and urged into the fire. it with the greater vehemence, by reason of the His Werner endeavoured to restrain him, but in reciprocal love of Sperata and himself. vain. Let me aloue' cried Wilhelm; what brothers sought the assistance of the family cou should these miserable leaves do here? To me 46 they give neither pleasant recollections nor plea- fessor who then declared the nature of their resant hopes. Shall they remain behind to vex lationship. To this revelation, Augustin turned me to the end of my life? Shall they perhaps a deaf ear; bidding them "Spare their idle one day serve the world for a jest, instead of tales" that "she was not his sister, but his wife." awakening sympathy and horror? Woe to me! We were shocked at the discovery, we demy doom is woe! Now I comprehend the wailing of the Poets, of the wretched whom necesplored his situation, but we knew not how to help sity has rendered wise. How long did I look ourselves, for he declared with violence, that upon myself as invulnerable and invincible, and Sperata had a child by him in her bosom." (v. ii, alas! I am now made to see that a deep and p. 189.) This disclosure produced, of course, a early sorrow can never heal, can never pass feeling of discomfort in the family. The Conaway; I feel that I shall take it with me to my fessor began to talk of religion. grave. No! not a day of my life shall escape this anguish, which at last must crush me down; and her image too shall stay with me, shall live and die with me."" "Name not your Gods"-said the Reverend Augustin, “You never name them, save when you wish to befool us." The mental and moral conflict ensuing upon the discovery, however, drove Augustin What with Wilhelm's infirm health and indif- frantic. He fled from his home, and is not again ferent spirits, and what with his attentive and heard of until we meet him as a deranged satisfactory deportment at the counting-house, it Harper, singing legendary lays, or mystical is again considered advisable by the old people snatches. Wilhelm adds him to his retinue, to resume the object of sending him on a col- puts him in an asylum, and does every thing that lecting tour. This is done. He passes some he can to restore the obscured light of reason to time in the discharge of his unpleasant duties its original lustre. But in vain. Father Auguswith the usual success, and finally stops to recruit tin terminated his earthly career with a razor. himself and horse at a market town in his route. (v. ii, p. 212–214.) Here he meets with Mignon. "The daughter of enthusiasm, rapture, passion, and despair, she is of the earth, but not earthly,” says Mr. Carlyle, (Pref. vol. i, p. xii). The history of Mignon runs like a thread of gold through the tissue of the narrative, connecting with the heart much that were else addressed only to the head. Philosophy and eloquence might have done the rest; but this is Poetry in the highest meaning of the word. 66 It must be for the power of producing such creations and emotions. that Goethe is by many of his countrymen ranked at the side of Homer and Shakspeare, as one of the only three men of genius that have ever lived" (Pref. xiii). It behooves us therefore to be very careful in our attempted outline of her story, and very guarded in our comments upon it, should we be bold enough to venture on any. It is this: The fearful crime which she had committed was concealed by a pious fraud from Sperata until after the birth of her child, and she was amused and cheated by pretended stories and messages from the absent Augustin (v. ii, p. 193). But as soon as her child was weaned, and she had recovered some strength, her confessor portrayed "her fault in the most terrific colors." He "took no small credit for the ingenuity with which he contrived to tear the poor creature's heart." "Her little girl meanwhile was growing; from her earliest years she had displayed an extraordinary disposition. When still very young, she could run and move with wonderful dexterity. She sang beautifully, and learned to play upon the cithern almost of herself," (v. ii, p. 194). The child was taken from the mother, and committed to a worthy family An old Italian nobleman (v. ii, p. 187 et seq.) on the sea shore. Here she soon displayed her having large estates and three sons, had a daugh- love of climbing. She liked to change clothes ter born to him late in life. As a similar circum- with the boys. Her wild walks and leapings stance occurring to one of his neighbors had been often led her to a great distance, but she always the source of much ridicule, he determined to came back. At last, she went out and did avoid it by bringing her up as the daughter of a not return again. It was conjectured that friend, and Sperata grew in loveliness with her she was drowned, though all our searching years. In the mean season, Augustin, one of could not find her body" (vol. ii, p. 195.) The his sons, had entered the cloister by command of unhappy mother walked from day to day along his Father. For awhile the duties of his convent the sea shore, gathering up little bones in the fond and the dreamy enthusiasm of his disposition, hope of finally obtaining all the remains of the enabled him to endure his involuntary vocation; lost object of her anguish and affections. Anbut on the death of his parent, he sought to be other pious fraud" was perpetrated. The bones of a child's skeleton were gradually in- had not face to push away," (v. i, pp. 389-390). troduced instead of those which she had collected. She fastened them together with ribands, and joyfully watched over them. One night, whilst she slept, they were removed, and, as she believed, animated by the spirit of her child, had ascended to Heaven. Now then her work on earth was done. She had lived and she had loved. To the Holy One must she now go-and so in tranquillity she passed away. Du Heilegi, rufe dein kind zuriick, He knew not who had thus hovered around him, but the physician who attended Mignon in her last illness told him, (v. ii, pp. 122–123) that though it was not she who had thus caressed him, yet she had seen some one in white dress, a certain Philina, enter his chamber on that occasion, and then her love for Meister "already keen and powerful in her little heart," "mingled with passionate jealousy" and "the unacknowledged longing of obscure desire" (no feeling, no affection, no scene, which Goethe describes is free from a tinge of the licentious coloring in which [Thekla's song in Schiller's Piccolomini. his imaginations seems to revel) "seized her But no such good fortune as a friendly wave half developed nature with tremendous force." had befallen the offspring of sin and shame. Violent action of the heart and convulsions folEvil days were in store for her. She had fallen lowed, which ultimately produced her death, (v. into the hands of a street-dancer, "who, by i, p. 146), But ere this last event occurred, she reason of his admirable skill, had been surnamed had been placed under the care of Natalia, one the Great Devil," (v. i, p. 128). On his death of Meister's numerous ladye loves, through whose she fell into the hands of his brother, from whom instrumentality she was induced to change her Meister buys her for thirty crowns, but can learn boy's costume for a more becoming attire, and nothing of her parentage or history. At this when Wilhelm next sees her, "she looked like a time she is about fourteen years of age, refuses departing spirit"—and such she indeed was-for obstinately to wear the ordinary apparel of fe- but a little while, and she faded away "Like a golden exhalation of the dawn." males and adheres to her masculine attire, to which she is more accustomed. "Her countenance was not regular but striking; her brow Her body is embalmed (v. ii, p. 147) and her full of mystery; her nose extremely beautiful; her obsequies are celebrated in a style, novel at least mouth, although it seemed too closely shut for one if not impressive, by "boys, dressed in azure of her age; and though she often threw it to a side, with silver, waving broad fans of ostrich feathhad yet an air of frankness, and was very lovely," ers, and by invisible choruses” (v. ii, p. 180.) (v. i, p. 121). She exhibited a fine brown This then is the story of Mignon, which has complexion, beautiful though sparingly inter- called for so much unbounded enthusiasm and mingled with red." She exhibits wonderful applause from Goethe's admirers, such wild fidelity and affection for Wilhelm, as her de- pæans in honor of his genius as a Poet. For ourliverer from an odious bondage, and when, during selves we frankly confess, that we see nothing in his journeyings, his party was attacked by robbers this story of incestuous love and its hapless conand himself wounded, "she drew her sword in sequences, so worthy of unqualified approbation. the battle, and seeing her friend in peril, struck Indeed it rather seems to us as an illustration of fiercely at the free-booters; one of whom had at what we conceive to be the most pernicious elelength seized her by the arm, and threw her ment in his writings, we mean the insidious aside," (v. i, 284,) whereby her arm was dislo- manner in which he saps and undermines the cated. Uncomplaining, unheeding her own pain, foundations of moral life, we speak not here of "she tried to staunch his wounds with her own morals as a science, but of moral life as penetrahair,” (v. i, p. 271) and for days waited on him, ting, vivifying, exalting the soul of man. True nor admitted her own sufferings until "pressed it is, that into the mouth of Mignon our author with questions," (v. i, p. 284) and it was then, puts his choicest songs, and in her girlish purity, "with her arm in a sling, she came forth with her unfriended helplessness and her early death, her attentions and her love, was eager in serving and lively in entertaining him,” (v. i, p. 285.) One night, when Meister had been carousing too freely with some play actors, he went to his bed, nearly stupified with drink. A noise aroused him, and he felt himself encircled with soft arms, and his mouth shut with kisses, which he To her Father in heaven may the daughter now go; I have known all the joys that the world can bestowI have lived-I have loved.-Bulwer's Translation. appeals most strongly to our sympathy. But however well he may succeed in arousing or touching our feelings, they should not be permitted to warp our judgment. And that judgment must reprehend in the most decided manner an attempt to indirectly justify a connexion which the laws of God and man alike condemn, and against which every genuine human feeling revolts. But we must pass to our outline of Meister's adventures. the pretence, at first, of securing warmth for his person. On the other hand he freed his neck from the tyranny of stocks; and got a few strips of muslin sewed upon his shirt, making the pieces of considerable breadth, so that they presented the complete appearance of an ancient ruff. The beautiful silk neckerchief, the memorial of Mariana, which had once been saved from burning, now lay slackly tied beneath this muslin collar. A round hat, with a parti-colored band, and a large feather, perfected the mask," (v. i, p. 252, 253.) Amongst other things which attracted his at- tume, reminding one forcibly of that adopted at tention in the market-town before spoken of, (v. the Massachusetts Phalanstery. After perusing i, p. 112,) was a fair-haired, pretty, and piquant the description it will be easily understood why girl, Philina, the friend of one Mr. Laertes. With "every one that met him stared with astonishthese two persons he soon scrapes an acquaint- ment," (v. ii, p. 267.) ance, and they go on divers excursions together. Philina with her saucy ways soon piques our It struck him that a waistcoat, over which, hero into a liking, which with equal quickness in case of need, one could throw a little short begets a jealous feeling on the part of Mr. Fried-knit pantaloons and a pair of lacing boots seemed mantle, was a very fit thing for a traveller. Long rich, a harum-sca: um youth of high birth, (the the true garb of a pedestrian. He next procured brother of Natalia, Lothario and the Countess, a fine silk sash, which he tied about him under with all of whom Meister falls in subsequently,) who, for love of her, waits on her, incognito. Friedrich and Philina part; then resume their old relationship: part again; are friends again, and so on; until at last Friedrich is metamorphosed by time from the beardless youth into "a young officer in a red uniform with white pantaloons," (v. i, p. 401,)—a metamorphose not without its disagreeable results, since "Philina's figure becomes so ludicrous and shapeless, that she cannot bear to see herself," (v. ii, p. 162.) In one of these excursions Meister's party is joined by Their performances attracted the attention of a man having a half-clerical appearance, and a theatre-loving Count, who invited them to his whose conversation and deportment produce a castle, there to perform certain plays. This they decided impression. This proves to be Jarno, a did so much to the satisfaction of the Count, that “handsome man," who professes the truest, deep- their visit was prolonged. The Count's wife, est devotion to philosophy, "and whom by his sister to Natalia and Lothario, was young and deep and dignified mien you might have taken for beautiful. The result, at last, according to Goa clergyman," (v. i, p. 145;) but who is in fact a ethe's notions of human nature, manly honor, libertine of the worst kind, being governed in his womanly virtue, is of course that Wilhelm amours by a spirit of cold sensuality, unredeem- appeared every day more interesting to the ed by a single passionate impulse; a man after Countess, while in him too a silent inclinaGoethe's own heart; in fact, such a man as was tion towards her was beginning to take root," Goethe himself. His philosophical theories are (v. i, p. 213,) to which feeling "their barmless but little else than a compound of Jacob Boeh- souls yielded without reserve." "The actresses menism and sentimentality, interlarded with a good deal of dillettauti criticism on the Fine Arts. A tolerable idea of his style of conversation, and of the correctness of the opinion here advanced may be gathered from the dialogue between himself and Lothario, (v. ii, p. 19.) had drawn upon them the attention of the young officers," whilst the actors "made more important conquests amongst the lady visiters,") amongst which, Laertes, the quondam friend of Philina, had captivated a certain Baroness, the intimate friend of the Countess. Him, Meister shortly after this abandons his busi- the Baroness would have made useful on this ness and joins a company of strolling actors. Of occasion, but unluckily "happening once to celthese we need say nothing further than to quote ebrate her praises" to her husband, he was "inhis own words to Jarno after his separation from structed a little in the habits of his wife," for them. "How vehemently they counterwork" the Baron with a grin replied-'I see how each other! It is only the pitifulest self-love, the matters stand; our fair friend has got a fresh innarrowest views of interest, that unite them. Of mate for her stalls."" This "luckless comparireciprocal accommodation they have no idea: son" to Circe " grieved poor Laertes to the backbiting and hidden spitefulness maintain a heart," whilst the Baron continued without constant jealousy amongst them. In their lives mercy." "Every stranger thinks he is the first they are either rakes or simpletons," (v. ii, p. whom this delightful manner of proceeding has 22.) This we consider sufficiently descriptive, concerned; but he is grievously mistaken,'” (v. i, and so pass on with the personal narrative of the p. 214.) The remarks of the Baron about his hero. His connexion with his theatrical com- wife very naturally disgusted Laertes with the rades produced however some changes in his no- adventure. He backed out of it, and could not tions on the subject of dress, which soon devel- be used therefore to forward the inclination of oped themselves in an easy, and yet poetic cos- the Countess and Meister for each other: an in VOL. XVII-56 66 clination which the Baroness anxiously desired ciple of Religion," (Pref. x.) to nurse into an indulgence, as "her own in- the story. But to return to trigues with several men, especially of late with Wilhelm's next adventure is with a certain AuJaruo, had not remained hidden from the Coun-relia, a widow, an actress and the sister of Mantess, whose pure soul could not look upon ager Serlo, whose troupe Meister had joined, such levities without disapprobation." Failing which interesting female always carries a with Laertes, Philina and Jarno, the high-sharp dagger. Of her, it is enough to say that minded devotee of Philosophy, are called in to after she was a widow, she had been for a assist her in trapping the pure Countess into the series of mouths on the most intimate terms with levity of a little adultery with Meister, for which Mr. Lothario. In course of time, he went away, "Jarno was richly rewarded," (v. i, p. 237.) An aud she became partially deranged. Philiinterview between the Countess and Meister is na's brief account, (v. i, p. 298,) is "a hapless contrived, (v. i, p. 238, 239. et. seq.) in which love affair with some nobleman, who has left her "without knowing it, he found the Countess in a memorial." Indeed, Philina "calculated Auhis arms; her lips were resting upon his, and relia's business. The death of her husband, their warm mutual kisses were yielding to them the new acquaintance, the child's age; all that blessedness, which mortals sip from the top-things agree." Aurelia's beauty and sorrowmost sparkling foam on the freshly poured cup of ful laments overcame Meister. He gives vent love. Her head lay on his shoulder; the dis- to some of those vows and sentiments which ordered ringlets and ruffles were forgotten," justify the much admiring Mr. Carlyle in saying, and so on, when "on a sudden she tore her-the hero is a milksop, whom with all his gifts, self away," begged him in "the most tender it takes an effort to avoid despising,” (Pref. x.) and affecting voice, Fly, if you love me.' Wil- Whereupon the young woman "darted her hand helm was out of the chamber and again in his into her pocket, pulled out her dagger quick as own room, before he knew what he was doing," lightning, and scored with the edge and point of (v. i, p. 243.) Whereupon Goethe apostropises it across his hand. He hastily drew back, but the uucommitted "levity" thus: "Unhappy creatures! what singular warning of chance or destiny tore them asunder. the blood was already running down," (v. i, p. 335.) Most men would shrink from an attachment for so vivacious a person. Not so with our Now Mr. Carlyle in his preface, (xi,) has given hero. He faithfully attended her to the last, for us to understand that to appreciate and relish she dies of course, and then obligingly undertook this book properly, we must give it our profound- to deliver to Lothario a letter addressed to that est study. "Not," says he, "not till after long person, which she entrusted to his care during and patient and intense examination, do we begin her dying hours, (v. i. p. 421, 422.) Arrived at to descry the earnest features of that beauty, Lothario's castle, he is shown into a handsome, which has its foundation in the deepest nature of spacious hall, where he repeats before the mirman, and will continue to be pleasing through all rors a pathetic speech, which he had composed ages." We submit, with great deference, that, for the occasion, assumes all sorts of dignified setting God and religion wholly out of view, it postures, in which to deceive his Lordship, when was not exactly the most honorable thing for Mr. all of a sudden a handsome man stepped in, exMeister to accept the money, (v. i, p. 245,) the cused himself for keeping Meister wait, took the hospitality and kinduesses of a gentleman, and letter, which he read very coolly, and then put then in grateful return therefor rob him of the af- his visiter in charge of "the abbe," who marched fections of his wife and try to seduce her. To us, him off to a very pretty chamber, where he remuch study and patient examination would not, proached himself for his indifferent mode of dowe fear, disclose the beautiful features of such a ing his errand, looked at some copper-plate en"levity." Nor would we find it in our individual gravings in his room, was "seized with an indemicrocosm, to admire the mode in which "man scribable compassion: tears filled his eyes; he and his concerns are represented in the first of wept, and did not recover his composure, till European minds," (Carlyle, Pref. xi,) if a hus- slumber overpowered him," (v. ii, p. 10, 11, 12.) band's guests and friends are, for the purpose of Next morning, whilst at breakfast with the clerhiding their own guilty commerce, to con-gyman, Lydia, a young lady, one of Lothario's trive projects for effecting his dishonor and numerous mistresses, rushes in and frantically the ruin of his wife. There may be "touch- demands her lover. Just then he is brought back, es of eloquence and poetry and tenderness," seriously wounded in a duel, fought on account in all this, but our perceptions are too ob- of another mistress. Of course he is treated as tuse, our moral faculties too uncultivated, to an invalid, and, as Lydia is rather importunate enable us to descry the earnest features of its in her attentions, Meister is employed with a beauty," or see in it the unfolding of the prin- cunning knave of a coachman," (v. ii, p. 27,) to carry her off to "a neat little country house," | the writer in person, and with her the intelligence the residence of Theresa, another mistress of that Madame St. Albin was not Theresa's mothLothario, but with whom he had no existing re-er, so that Lothario is once more free to renew lations. The poor girl's grief is very great at his engagement with her, which he offers to do. discovering the fraud thus practised on her, and At first she refuses and sticks to Meister, who she naturally inveighs against Meister's guile has given way to an unbounded passion for Naand treachery, whilst he protests his inno-Italia, a passion which is fully reciprocated, and cence, and says he is only "a guiltless tool." he is accordingly much perplexed. Things ultiHe takes great credit to himself, however, for mately adjust themselves, and Lothario and Thehaving thus successfully deceived a hapless, helpless orphan. And though we have not yet discovered "the features of beauty" in such conduct, doubtless "patient examination" will cause us to regard it as exceedingly honorable and meritorious. Meister, whose propensity for falling in love with cast off mistresses, is greater than that of any novel-hero we have ever met with, takes a walk resa once more resume their ancient relations; Meister and Natalia are engaged; but as the utmost confidence is not placed in Meister's stability of character, he is sent on his "Travels" for a year before the affair is to be consummated. The development of this plot and counterplot occupies the whole of Book VIII. With "the Travels" we have nothing to do. We have thus given a faithful outline-omitwith "a handsome hunter-boy," (v. ii, p. 35,) ting the loves of the actors, as Meister tersely who turns out to be Theresa. She tells him her and sufficiently characterizes them as "rakes history-of her acquaintance with and engageor simpletons"—of this world-famous novel, for ment to Lothario, how it was broken off by her whose moral beauty and religious spirit so much intended discovering that one of his numerous is claimed by Goethe's adherents and admirers. amours had been with Madame St. Albin, a Concerning the Book itself, we have no comgay lady travelling under an assumed name, ments to make. To those who can see it in any but who was Theresa's mother, and how she other light than as a production of the highest had never seen him more. Meister, as usual, talent prostituted to the narration of lascivious makes love, and upon his return to Lothario's scenes and stories, of exquisite purity of style mansion, proposes marriage, and is accepted, expended in licentious descriptions, of marvelbut not until our susceptible friend had fallen in love with Natalia, the younger sister of the Countess and Lothario, and who, to increase his miseries, hands him Theresa's letter of acceptance, (v. ii, p. 130.) Pending all this, and whilst he is staying at the castle, he is initiated into the mysteries of a certain secret society, under whose supervision his whole previous life has been passed, though unknown to him. Its principal members are the Abbe, Jarno, Lothario and friends. The mummeries are not very imposing or impressive, (v. ii, p. 86, 93,) and are not essential to the outline of this story. He receives his Indenture, and is told that his Apprenticeship is now completed, and his Mastership is begun. It can not fail to surprise every reader, however, who remembers the amours of Jarno and Lothario, to learn that the object of this semi-illuminati association is to "encourage the beautiful,” “cultivate Nature's endowments" amongst its members, &c. The Indenture itself we will not extract as Meister pronounces it "surprising stuff." After his initiation he is despatched to the mansion of Lothario's sister, who turns out to be a beautiful Amazon," who extended some kindness to him when he was wounded by the freebooters. Here Wilhelm receives Theresa's letter of acceptance-followed shortly after by lous gifts of poetry and song, deliberately employed in undermining all that is honorable or holy amongst men-to such its frequent perusal may afford much pleasure, and its patient examination develope earnest features of beauty. To us, it does not. Philadelphia. Dear ford - hy hout dow treated such as there? SONNET. Fate! seek me out some lake far off and lone, AGLAUS. |